Binan

The City of Biñan is a component city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is located in the west of the Laguna de Bay and is 52 kilometers away from Metro Manila. Biñan is known for being a major economic center of Laguna for its industrial parks, as well as a suburb of Metro Manila. A month after Miguel Lopez de Legaspi created Manila by exploring Laguna de Bay, the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines and the second largest in Asia, Captain Juan de Salcedo found and founded Biñan at the end of June 1571. Biñan broke away from its home town, Tabuco (now Cabuyao), in 1688 when the provincial government of the Provincia dela Laguna de Bay was relocated from Bay to Pagsanjan. During Pablo Faustino's reign in 1791, Santa Rosa broke away from Biñan. On January 15 of the following year, Sta Rosa de Lima was founded and granted its own town status.Books on José Rizal, the nation's national hero, have historically made Biñan famous throughout the country. José Rizal traveled to Biñan with his brother Paciano in June 1869 when he was still a little lad. They went to his aunt's house, which was close to the town main, where they were to stay. Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz was given charge of his first official schooling here, and after a year and a half of instruction, he suggested that young Rizal pursue further studies in Manila. The home where José Rizal resided was given a plaque of appreciation in his honor. In honor of Biñan's connection to Rizal, a monument is currently located in the middle of the town plaza.